Initiators for materials which can be polymerized cationically

Abstract

Initiator compositions for materials which can be polymerized cationically are described, these containing i) an anhydride of a polycarboxylic acid, a polyisocyanate, a cyclic carbonate, a lactone or a mixture of such compounds, and dissolved therein ii) at least one compound of the formula I [M.sup.+n (L).sub.x ].sup.n+ n X.sup.- (I) in which n is 2 or 3, M is a metal cation selected from the group consisting of Zn 2+ , Mg 2+ , Fe 2+ , Co 2+ , Ni 2+ , Cr 2+ , Ru 2+ , Mn 2+ , Sn 2+ , VO 2+ , Fe 3+ , Al 3+ and Co 3+ , X - is an anion which is selected from the group consisting of AsF 6 - , SbF 6 - , BiF 6 - and derivatives derived from these anions in which a fluorine atom is replaced by hydroxyl groups, or in which up to 50% of the anions X - , based on the total amount of anions, can also be any desired anions, L is water or an organic σ-donor ligand which contains, as ligand sites, one or more functional radicals selected from the group consisting of --CO--, --CO--O--, --O--CO--O--and --O--, and which forms σ-bonds with the central atom via the oxygen atom or via the oxygen atoms, and x is an integer from 0 to 6, it being possible for the ligands L to differ within the context of the definitions given.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A compound of the formula II   [(L.sup.1).sub.a M.sup.+n (L.sup.2).sub.b ].sup.n+ nX.sup.-(II)     in which n is 2 or 3, M is a metal cation selected from the group consisting of Zn 2+ , Mg 2+ , Fe 2+ , Co 2+ , Ni 2+ , Cr 2+ , Ru 2+ , Mn 2+ , Sn 2+ , VO 2+ , Fe 3+ , Al 3+  and Co 3+ , X -  is an anion which is selected from the group consisting of AsF 6   - , SbF 6   - , BiF 6   -  and derivatives derived from these anions in which a fluorine atom is replaced by hydroxyl groups, or in which up to 50% of the anions X - , based on the total amount of anions, can also be any desired anions, L 1  is a mono-to hexadentate σ-donor ligand and is an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic or araliphatic compound having one or two ketone, anhydride, carbonate or ester groups or one to six ether groups per molecule, it being possible for the ligands L 1  of a compound of the formula II to differ in the context of the definitions given, L 2  is water, b is an integer from 0 to 2, preferably 0, and, if L 1  is a monodentate ligand, a is an integer from 4 to 6 and the sum of a and b is in each case 6, and, if L 1  is a bidentate ligand, a is an integer from 2 to 3 and the sum of 2a and b is in each case 6, and, if L 1  is a tridentate ligand, a is 2 and the sum of 3a and b is 6, and if L 1  is a tetra-, penta- or hexadentate ligand, a is 1 and the sum of 4a and b or of 5a and b is 6 and the sum of 6a and b is 6 or 8, excluding bis{[12]-crown-4}-iron(II) hexafluoroantimonate, bis{[ 15]-crown-5}-iron(II) hexafluoroantimonate and ([12]-crown -4)([15]-crown5)-iron(II) hexafluoroantimonate.   
     
     
       2. A compound of the formula II according to claim 1, in which a is 6 or 3, b is 0 and L 1  is an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic or araliphatic compound having one or two carboxylic acid anhydride groups. 
     
     
       3. A process for the preparation of a compound of the formula II   [(L.sup.1).sub.a M.sup.+n (L.sup.2).sub.b ].sup.n+ nX.sup.-(II)     in which n is 2 or 3, M is a metal cation selected from the group consisting of Zn 2+ , Mg 2+ , Fe 2+ , Co 2+ , Ni 2+ , Cr 2+ , Ru 2+ , Mn 2+ , Sn 2+ , VO 2+ , Fe 3+ , Al 3+  and Co 3+ , X -  is an anion which is selected from the group consisting of AsF 6   - , SbF 6   - , BiF 6   -  and derivatives derived from these anions in which a fluorine atom is replaced by hydroxyl groups, or in which up to 50% of the anions X - , based on the total amount of anions, can also be any desired anions, L 1  is a mono- to hexadentate σ-donor ligand and is an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic or araliphatic compound having one or two ketone, anhydride, carbonate or ester groups or one to six ether groups per molecule, it being possible for the ligands L 1  of a compound of the formula II to differ in the context of the definitions given, L 2  is water, b is an integer from 0 to 2, preferably 0, and, if L 1  is a monodentate ligand, a is an integer from 4 to 6 and the sum of a and b is in each case 6, and, if L 1  is a bidentate ligand, a is an integer from 2 to 3 and the sum of 2a and b is in each case 6 and, if L 1  is a tridentate ligand, a is 2 and the sum of 3a and b is 6, and if L 1  is a tetra-, penta- or hexadentate ligand, a is 1 and the sum of 4a and b or of 5a and b is 6 and the sum of 6a and b is 6 or 8, which process comprises dissolving a compound of the formula IIa     [(L.sup.3).sub.a M.sup.+n (L.sup.2).sub.b ].sup.n+ nX.sup.-(IIa)     in which M, L 2 , X, n, a and b are as defined above and L 3  is as defined for L 1  above, together with an amount corresponding at least to the stoichiometry of the desired end product of a ligand L 1  which differs from L 3 , and heating the solution to carry out the ligand exchange.